The real answer is: any time you're outside. It's important to remember that sun protection isn't just for days at the beach. Sun damage can happen whenever you come in contact with harmful UV rays—that includes when you are out walking the dog or driving in your car, early or late in the day when the sun is low, or even on overcast days.

Remember: when you are fully dressed, your hands and face are still exposed, so a little daily sun protection is a good idea. The most dangerous time to be outdoors without proper protection is between 10 AM and 3 PM, when the sun is at its peak. It is safest to stay indoors during those hours, but if you go outside, be sure to wear protective clothing or use a high SPF sunscreen and reapply it frequently and liberally. (One ounce of sunscreen, enough to fill a shotglass, should cover most exposed skin.)

What is an SPF?

SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a rating system that determines how long a sunscreen protects your skin from the sun's UVB rays. The SPF number is a measure of how much longer you can stay in the sun without burning while using a sunscreen versus how long you can stay without burning while wearing NO sun protection. Say that your skin normally begins to turn red after 10 minutes of unprotected sun exposure. If you use a product rated SPF 2, your skin would not begin to burn for twice that amount of time: 20 minutes. If you use a sun product rated SPF 25, you could stay in the sun for 250 minutes, a little over 4 hours (25 x 10 minutes) before your skin would start to turn red. Remember, though, that SPF numbers are not absolute. It all depends on how fast or how slowly YOU start to burn. If your unprotected skin burns in 5 minutes, an SPF 25 product might let you stay in the sun a little over 2 hours without burning (25 x 5 minutes = 125 minutes).

Here's something else to keep in mind: The SPF measures only the level of protection from UVB rays, the ultraviolet rays that cause sunburn, and does not measure levels for the far more dangerous UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply and can cause damage at the cellular level. When choosing a sunscreen, it's important to look for one that offers broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

What are UV rays?

Rays of light from the sun are different lengths. Some of those lengths result in the different colors you see. UV rays are shorter than the shortest rays in the visible-light spectrum, which are the ones your eyes perceive as the color violet. (UV stands for "ultraviolet.") There are 3 types of UV rays:

UVC rays are the shortest, so short that they usually don't make it through the Earth's ozone layer to reach your skin. When it comes to sun protection, UVC rays are not a concern.

UVB rays are a little longer, and can penetrate the skin, but not too deeply, reaching only the outer layers (epidermis). UVB rays are responsible for causing your skin to tan and/or burn. Longterm exposure to UVB rays can rapidly age your skin, making it look leathery and wrinkled.

UVA rays are the longest UV rays, and can penetrate more deeply, into the dermis, the second layer of your skin. They can do serious damage at the cellular level, causing cellular changes that can lead to skin cancers. They are a primary cause for photo aging, wrinkles and skin discoloration.

"Critical wavelength" is the international rating system for UVA protection, defined as the point at which a sunscreen allows 10% of UVA rays to penetrate the skin. The FDA has determined sunscreens with a critical wavelength of over 370 nanometers provide excellent protection. Aubrey's Natural Sun SPF 30+ sunscreens have a critical wavelength of 375 nm.

How do Aubrey Organics' sun protection products work?There are two main types of sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays before they have a chance to penetrate and damage the skin. (These types of sunscreens are more controversial because they are easily absorbed by the skin and can cause allergic reactions, irritation and other more serious concerns.) Physical barrier sunscreens form a protective layer on top of your skin that blocks and reflects the sun's harmful rays.

Aubrey's Natural Sun sunscreens are physical barrier sunscreens, formulated with micronized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as the active ingredients. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are naturally occurring minerals, and are among the 17 ingredients approved for sun protection by the FDA. Since both are white in color, the larger the particles of these ingredients, the more of a whitish film they leave on your skin. "Micronized" simply means they are ground into a very thin powder made up of particles so small, they are measured in either microns or nanometers (nm). The smaller the particles, the less visible the ingredients.

Aubrey Organics is very confident in the track record of safety and effectiveness of these ingredients, which is backed by many clinical studies.

What are nanoparticles? Should I be concerned?A nanoparticle is a very tiny piece of a solid substance. "Nano" means "billion," and a nanoparticle is defined as a particle smaller than one billionth of a meter (a nanometer, or nm). Nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are often used in sun products to minimize the white film these ingredients can leave on the skin.

Some consumer groups have raised concerns about nanoparticles, fearing that something so small could penetrate the skin, get into deeper tissues, and have adverse health effects. This issue has been studied extensively over the past five years. The overwhelming number of current studies indicates that nanoparticulate titanium dioxide and zinc oxide do not get past the epidermis. The FDA has determined nanoparticles are safe when used in cosmetics and sunscreens.

That said, Aubrey Organics' testing has shown that the average particle of micronized titanium dioxide in Aubrey sunscreens has an average size of 202 nm, or twice the largest size considered a nanoparticle, while the average zinc oxide particle is more than 1,000 nm, or ten times the size of a nanoparticle.

Aubrey's PhilosophyFrom the products they manufacture to the people they touch, Aubrey Organics believes that how a company conducts its business is as important as what it sells. Ethics, values, environment, responsibility and leadership are all at the heart of Aubrey. Aubrey has taken a leadership role in giving back to the earth, its people, and its culture, as we are all connected. That is only fair.

Aubrey's MissionAubrey Organics' mission is to provide all-natural, safe and effective personal care and lifestyle products to the consumer. Aubrey offers a true and authentic alternative to many of the mass produced synthetic products on the market today. Aubrey crafts only the highest quality all-natural products without compromise as to ingredients, packaging or cost.

Aubrey believes in education and transparency. A customer is best able to make an educated and correct purchasing decision only when armed with true and valued information. Part of Aubrey's core purpose is to provide that information as best as they can.

What Aubrey DoesAt Aubrey they're believe great ingredients make great products. This is the simple philosophy at the heart of the pioneering personal care company Aubrey Hampton founded over 40 years ago. Since the very beginning, the high standards Aubrey set for themselves has not changed. Aubrey uses only the finest herbal, plant extracts and natural vitamins in all of their products. You will find no paraben preservatives, no petrochemicals, no artificial colors or fragrances of any kind. Today Aubrey remains committed to making healthy, natural products based on herbal traditions that, in many cases, date back thousands of years. Aubrey believes that everything they know about hair and skin care they learned from nature first.

How Aubrey Does ItAll products at Aubrey are creatively designed to work in hamony with nature. This fine balance of performance and nature is truly an art… and a little science.

Next comes the sourcing of ingredients. Aubrey will accept only the highest quality and purest of ingredients from around the world. Each ingredient is tested to ensure it meets Aubrey's high standards for purity and efficacy.

Aubrey then mixes their products the old-fashioned way, by hand (as you might in your kitchen). Every product is handcrafted in small batches of 50 gallons or less for greater quality control. And there is always a watchful set of eyes during the manufacturing phase.

Remember, there is nothing to be found in an Aubrey product that does not come from nature.

Aubrey's CommitmentAubrey's commitment to people is profound. Aubrey believes that they are truly citizens of the world and accept the responsibilities that accompany that. Aubrey works with farm communities, suppliers and businesses from around the world. It might be by sponsoring organic agriculture in Honduras, overseeing the development of herbs in Japan, or explaining the importance of organic farming techniques in Ghana.

At the same time Aubrey understands and believes that charity begins at home. Aubrey is greatly tied into their local community. It all starts with their employees. Aubrey believes in fair pay, safe working conditions, and use an ethical approach when handling all issues. All their employees are important, have a voice, and are listened to. The smallest of suggestions could lead to the largest discoveries.

Aubrey supports many charities, whether it is an AIDS hostel in Vancouver, Canada, or a homeless shelter in downtown Tampa. Aubrey does not discriminate. Aubrey is actively engaged in and support the performing arts and encourage participation.

Aubrey believes the best accomplishment of a successful organization is to make the world a little better, cleaner and brighter for tomorrow's people.

Aubrey's commitment to the Earth is not new. They have lived this commitment heart and soul for over 40 years now. It is nothing new to them, and certainly not a trend or a bandwagon we recently jumped on. It is, and has always been Aubrey's way of life.

Aubrey's purpose is to leave the Earth in better shape than it is today. From the all-natural ingredients in their products, to the biodegradable, recyclable and recycled packaging they use, Aubrey is careful to a fault. Profit is never the overriding factor in Aubrey's packaging or ingredient decision-making. Aubrey uses sustainable, plant-based ingredients in all of their products. Aubrey never uses petrochemicals or other non-sustainable ingredients. All their print materials are produced on recycled paper and are 100% recyclable. From start to finish, Aubrey understands the importance of the product life cycle. The final disposition of a product is as important as its inception. All of their formulations are biodegradable.

Aubrey understands that future generations are counting on them to be stewards of the Earth. Aubrey needs to provide for them a clean, safe and non-toxic world where all can live in health and happiness. One cannot exist without the other! Aubrey will do everything in their power to honor this commitment.

Aubrey is a value-based organization. Aubrey believes that a company can conduct business in an ethical and enlightened manner and be successful, and they are determined to set an example. Aubrey believes that competition and fair play are at the heart of success. Corporate greed has no place in today's business environment. Aubrey lives by these rules everyday and encourages all to follow in the same footsteps.

Aubrey's values are their guide to:

Fair trade

Fair play

Fair treatment of employees

Fair treatment of partners

Integrity

Humanity & nature - it is One World

Ethics

Responsibility

Leadership

Transparency

Education

And much more…

Natural Products Association SealAubrey was the first natural cosmetic manufacturer to have a complete makeup line certified by the Natural Products Association (NPA). In 2008, the NPA established the first and only national standard for natural personal care products. The NPA certification and official seal are awarded to personal care products that meet their strict definition of natural, and are designed to help consumers identify truly natural products and make an informed decision.

Founded in 1936, the NPA is the largest non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the natural products industry.

QAI - Quality Assurance InternationalIn 1994 Aubrey became the first personal care company to be certified as an organic processor by Quality Assurance International of San Diego, CA. Aubrey's Tampa, Florida, manufacturing plant is regularly inspected and has been certified as a facility where organic ingredients are handled to US Dept. of Agriculture's National Organic Program standards.

Aubrey is committed to using premium natural and organic ingredients-and the list of certified organic herbs and plant extracts you'll find in their products keeps growing. Aubrey believes this is the best way to tell their customers just how natural they really are.

Based in Mannheim, Germany, the BDIH Certified Natural Cosmetic seal was created in 1996 to establish strict guidelines for the manufacture of natural cosmetics. Only companies using the finest, plant-based ingredients and ecologically responsible manufacturing practices can be BDIH certified. Aubrey is proud to display the BDIH Certified Natural Cosmetic seal in its European labels.

USDA Organic CertificationA number of Aubrey's products have been certified organic by the USDA National Organic Program, and carry the USDA Organic seal. Aubrey is committed to using as many organic ingredients as possible in our natural products.

Leaping Bunny - Cruelty-FreeAll Aubrey products carry the "leaping bunny" logo, the internationally recognized symbol for "cruelty-free" cosmetics. Established by the Coalition for Consumer Information in Cosmetics (CCIC), a group of eight national animal protection organizations, the leaping bunny represents a single, comprehensive standard. Whenever you see this logo, you can be sure neither the product, nor any of its ingredients has been tested on animals.

For more than 40 years, Aubrey has been a vocal opponent of animal testing. Aubrey has never tested on animals, and they never will.

Warnings

For external use only. When using this product, keep out of eyes. If contact with eyes occurs, rinse with water to remove. Stop use and ask a doctor if rash or irritation develops and lasts. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Recommendation

By Jennifer
(Duarte
, CA
)

Bought this for my sweetheart who is always outside gardening and running. I have the hardest time getting him to regularly wear sunscreen, especially natural ones since they sometimes take some time to rub into the skin, but this one is perfection! He wears it every day. :) Easy to apply, smells good, all around great product.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by contributors of the product reviews are their own and not necessarily those of LuckyVitamin.com. LuckyVitamin.com does not endorse or imply any medical claims from these reviews. These reviews should not be taken as recommendations but rather customer opinions of the products that they may or may not have used. Reviews are not intended as a substitute for appropriate medical care or advice and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Read the full product reviews disclaimer here.

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Manufacturer Info

About Aubrey Organics

All Aubrey Organics® products are completely natural, made with herbals, essential oils and natural vitamins. No synthetic chemicals of any kind are ever found in any of our formulas. The company uses liquid coconut oil in their soaps and shampoos and coconut fatty acids and essential fatty acids in their creams and lotions, and a natural preservative of citrus seed and vitamins A, C and E. All of their formulas are formulated and hand-crafted in small batches in their Tampa, FL, manufacturing plant. To date, they offer more than 140 hair, skin and bodycare products that carry the Aubrey Organics® guarantee: 100% natural and never tested on animals. Made in the USA.

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